Image taken from visualphotos.com
Note: For purposes of simplification, examples will be drawn from three different books.
Title
“Booktopia”
The Big Idea
Exploring children’s literature and more.
Target Member
Children between the ages of 8-14 since this virtual world will focus on exploring various children books that will take the form of an environment (such as Hogwarts from Harry Potter and Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). It is mainly to encourage children at a younger age to want to read more and learn how to discuss with fellow readers. Time spent could range about an hour to two. This VW would ideally be half a gig requiring about 400 MB of RAM. The ideal internet speed would be DSL and above but can work with a 56K modem.
Value Proposition
My target member cares about getting to virtually explore the world a certain book and interact with it. Using Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory as an example, my target member will get to see the chocolate river itself and try to avoid oompa loompas if causing mischief.
World Design Feature Categories (in outline format, describe each verbally in functional detail and use visual mockup examples where words fail):
Expressions will take form of body language (“waving, hands on hips, etc”) and of course facial that can be activated from what people type or from a drop down (similar to Second Life). Like many VWs, communication can be done through a real time chat in public or through private messaging. Since the focus is to immerse the user in the book world to expand on imaginative skills, a voice chat will not be an available option.
The way users will connect to each other will be through mutual interests of books read. They can discuss with each other aspects of each book world they liked, disliked, etc. and connect it back to the actual novel.
Reputation will take form of the number of books read and knowledge. They will accumulate points for books they have read, for completing certain tasks, participating in events and for answering trivia which also doubles as earning currency. A certain number of points will increase their ranks, starting from 0, gaining 500 will level them up to 1, and so forth. The alloted points will increase as the levels go higher and not just in increments of 500.
Personal abilities will take the form of unique abilities and skills found in other books. Casting spells from Harry Potter or using weaponry from Narnia for other purposes such as fighting or cutting grass.
Note: In terms of fighting, consent must be granted to fight other users though since the purpose of Booktopia is to stay as close to the book canon including its experiences. In short, the goal is to have users gain/acquire abilities they would like from other stories.
B. Place
World Story: Booktopia is a place that harbors new worlds (children books) as earth holds continents and many different countries. By coming here, you are taking on the role of an adventurer, much like the main characters you have read in your favorite books and come explore and re-live the story. At times you may even divert the course of what has actually happened. Collect as many artifacts and skills as you so desire in these worlds and mix and match them to create a whole new experience.
Several ideas for how the travel in Booktopia:
A room/house with artifacts that connect to each world such as a golden ticket to Willy Wonka's Factory, a closet to Narnia, travel outside to a train station (Platform 9 3/4) to get to Hogwarts, and so forth.
Another would be to travel it similarly like one would with the real world and need to fly/run (really fast), etc around the world to reach their destination. Similar to world map concepts in videogames.
An idea I got from a classmate would be a series of doors, each leading to a different book world.
The way users would navigate would be in third person or first if they wish for total immersion. It will take place in a 3D space and the purpose would be to simply explore and gather. They can have fun with interacting with characters and creatures from the book which will act as NPCs. And when applicable, the environment itself (such as if there were talking trees, objects, etc). For example, in the world of Alice and Wonderland, they may interact with the Cheshire Cat himself or the Caterpillar. They can find the tabletop with the two potions (and even take/buy some into their own inventory) that can shrink and enlarge you respectively. This would double up as their ownership when they gain the right/acquire a unique item and ability.
C. Purpose
There will be various shops in each book world if a user would like to buy an ability or item. However, like many VWs, some items cannot be purchased and must be earned through tasks/quests. The shops will largely feature items from its respected book world that seemed run of the mill such as Butterbeer, Bertie Bots from Harry Potter, and frobscottle, snozzcumbers, three course dinner gum, and so forth.
The way to earn currency in VW is as mentioned, accumulating points from proof of having read a book. This can be done through proof of purchase (code provided or connected to e-reader) and/or cataloging it on a social cataloging network site. Since these alone can't perfectly prove if one read the book and can be easily exploited, very little points can be earned this way.
The main method of earning currency would be answering book trivia questions. Naturally, the more difficult the question, the more its worth.
The main method of earning currency would be answering book trivia questions. Naturally, the more difficult the question, the more its worth.
Points can also be earned through minigames, contests, and events.
Finally, items can be sold to other users.
Learn: They will learn how to interact with other users when discussing other books as well as increase their insights of the books they have read. They may even get a “taste” of other books they’re considering reading by exploring its world though the main intention it for them to seek the world after having read it.
D. Fun Things To Do
Along with interacting with the environment and adapting a story’s unique powers in likeness with its characters, there will be mini-games and events. Mini-games will include activities in relation to the book such as Quidditch at Hogwarts and dream catching in Giant Country (BFG). Events will involve contests that can use the minigames and to re-enact scenes from the book.
Re-enacting scenes from a book
In terms of events to re-live scenes from the book, the users will be given choices that will stray from the canon. The purpose of this is for them to gain some insights as to why the author chose the particular event to happen the way it did or why the characters did/said/went what they did. You as a yourself will follow the characters as they venture throughout the story and whenever a decision is made, you can make the choice as to go along with what you know or test out the alternative. Using Alice and Wonderland as an example:
What to do when you see the white rabbit:
Follow it - following the storyling that will lead you to the rabbithole.
Catch it - the rabbit will just flail and shout its late and eventually will escape.
Ignore it - you will not enter Wonderland and remain in the green pastures.
Some may be more "obvious" choices to what the outcome may be provided you have read the book such as taking a tour in Willy Wonka's Factory. Knowing how much you can sample, are allowed to, and so forth may vary until the oompa loompas will carry you away.
This is inspired by the “Give Yourself Goosebumps” series that gives the reader a set of actions to choose from, some of which end the story right then and there.
Users can acquire pets such as an owl (Harry Potter), a similarly striped/colored and would spout cryptic messages breed of "Cheshire" cat, and other unique or stock pets.
E. Society
Rules:
- Do not give out addresses or telephone numbers, even your own for safety reasons. Doing so can result in a ban.
- No Cursing (although there will be a filter, a constant detection of swear words can result in a ban).
- No cheating which often involves use of third party programs.
- No solicitations or advertising.
Government: For added fun, some moderators can be hired professionals or NPCs that take some authoritative figure in respect to the book work. It could be Snape, the Queen of Hearts, Aslan, oompa loompas etc. They will throw down judgement ("Off with your head!") and have to teleported back to the mainland. Repeated instances will result in a temporary ban. A total of three bans will result in termination of the account.
World Design Plan - Visual Designs
World Design Plan – Visual Designs (minimally detailed sketches, maximally finished prototype illustrations). Depending on your concept, provide map, at least two example location designs, diagram of locations and relations to each other, examples of building design, object design, general avatar look, etc.
Interface Components In-world and HUD Graphical User Interface
(e.g. menus, etc). Text descriptions, sketches and/or prototype illustrations, sketches showing operation of GUI components, etc. For In-World applications, also provide detailed flow-charts showing how it works.
Out-World Components Identify, describe, and offer at least 2 sample design sketches for the Web-based companion-components to your virtual world, e.g. web site, member forum, member wiki, special interest groups, social event scheduling and notification, reputation-ranking, etc. How will all this be structured, accessed, and what is the look and feel of its overall design?
Forums: Here, users can discuss the books and the VWs outside the program. They can discuss their favorite books, chapters, parts of the VW, and so forth. There would be other discussion groups such as outside interests for users to mingle and connect with in addition to what books they read.
Social Event Scheduling and Notifications: Notifications of events can be done through newsletters via e-mail. Like Second Life, a website listing all the upcoming events will be posted.
Within the VW itself, the mainland will have a bulletin board of all upcoming events.
E-book reader/Smartphone: Users can connect/download a plugin or app onto their e-reader/smartphone to use as proof as purchase/as proof of having read a book.
List of e-book readers:
Amazon: Kindle
Barnes & Noble: Nook
Bookeen: Cybook
Condor Technology Associates: 4FFF N618
Endless Ideas: Bebook
Entourage: eDGe
Foxit Software: eSlick
Interead: COOL-ER
iRex Technologies: Digital Reader
Iriver: Story
Kobo: ereader
Pocketbook: Pocketbook
Samsung: Papyrus
Sony: Sony Reader
Velocity: Cruz
Social cataloging site:
List of social cataloging sites for books:
http://www.goodreads.com/
http://www.shelfari.com/
http://www.anobii.com/
http://www.librarything.com/
http://www.wattpad.com/
http://weread.com/
Buying the book physically: In order to fully appreciate Booktopia, one has to read the books of the worlds they plan to explore! Reading the book will give the users something they want to explore and immerse themselves (virtually) and to imagine living out the adventure of their beloved characters. A code may come with the book or be redeemed if they would like to use it to earn points in Booktopia itself or special downloadable content.
Research
Websites researched:
- Virtual world types: navigating the VW jungle
- Introduction to Virtual Worlds
- Virtual Worlds Review
- Media Use Statistics
- List of social networking websites
- Comparison of e-book readers
Concepts/Inspirations:
- Live Photosharing (Club Cooee)
- Minigames (Toontown)
- Earning currency through trivia quizzes/questions (Mokitown)
- Colloquialize/"Translate" speech (Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates) i.e "buddies" > "hearties", "inventory" > "booty"
- Event Schedule (Second Life)
- DLC (Downloadable Content) concept from current generation consoles
- Animal Crossing for the emotion icons on screen and bulletin board idea.
- Used Hogwarts Student Maker for "customized look" example.
- Onlinebookclub.org forum used as an example for forum concept
